Director's Cut

Executive Team

Our recent 'Spotlight'
feature explored how the Policy team contribute to the Bar
Council's work, but this is only one part of how we represent you.
In upcoming BarTalks, Directors of the different functions that
make up the Bar Council will be sharing behind-the-scenes insights
about how their teams help deliver the Bar Council's extensive
mission.

Natalie Zara, Head of Governance

Before coming to work for the Bar Council, I was a qualified
museums' professional and archivist working in many museums and
archives across London including the Museum of Domestic Design and
Architecture and Senate House. Tired of the slow-moving
environment I became a School Registrar at Holland Park School for
four years overseeing the examinations, attendance, student
services and admissions departments. Life was far from slow
paced at the school and I soon learnt how to juggle a range of
conflicting demands on my time, not to mention demanding parents
and students!

Finally, in 2012, frankly exhausted, I applied for the
Operational Support Team Manager role in the Professional Conduct
Department of the BSB. The role enabled me to use my
administrative and archival skills in a challenging yet truly
fascinating environment and in 2016, ready for a new challenge I
moved to the Bar Council to become Head of Governance.

My team is small. I manage the Executive Assistant who
provides PA support to the Chair and Officers the Executive Support
Assistant who serves the Chief Executive. However, our roles
are far wider than that. For my part I oversee and monitor
the business planning processes for the Representation, Policy and
Services part of the Bar Council, I set the Executive Office
budget, maintain the Bar Council risk register, ensure that the
Regulatory Independence Protocol between the BSB and Bar Council is
adhered to and its processes followed, facilitate changes to the
Constitution or Standing Orders when the need arises, organise the
internal Operational Management Board and take responsibility for
the administration of the 'joint' BSB and Bar Council committees
including running recruitment campaigns when members leave.

Much of my role revolves around the administration of the Bar
Council from acting as Secretary and writing the minutes to
advertising vacancies, finding accommodation for meetings and
dealing with attendance concerns. I am responsible for
ensuring that the Bar Council elections (both office and
subscriber) run smoothly each year and I oversee the recruitment
processes for Bar Council committees ensuring that the committees
are fairly balanced and that new members of the Bar Council get the
opportunity to join one. I enjoy this very much as I am
always thoroughly impressed by the amount of time that barristers
are prepared to commit to the Bar Council and its committees.
The Summer Reception, which my team organises, is a highlight for
me as it is an opportunity for the Bar Council to thank those
barristers, and staff members, in a less formal setting.

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